From mini loaders built to get through tight man doors to massive excavators and haul trucks built for real dirt-moving muscle, it was all at this week’s CONEXPO event in Las Vegas – and just about every major OEM was showing off fresh zero-emission machinery meant to match diesel on productivity and performance and beat it on noise and TCO.
The OEMs aren’t exactly tripping over each other to show off big money electric deals for the US market like they were at the mid-Biden CES shows, but electrification is still massively important for any equipment manufacturer with global ambitions – and the recent horror show playing out in Iran isn’t making diesel any cheaper, either!
As such, the usual electrified suspects from Volvo like the EC230 Electric excavator and L90 Electric wheel loaders got plenty of second looks – and they were joined by some fresh faces, too. Here are some of the most significant, presented in alphabetical order by manufacturer to prevent any editorial bias from creeping into the story.
CASE TL100EV
CASE debuted an all-new electric version of its TL100 stand-on mini track loader with ultra-quiet, low-vibration, emissions-free running and (according to CASE) all the power and performance you get from its diesel counterpart. The TL100EV joins the 580EV electric backhoe in CASE’ US lineup, but CASE – the “C” to New Holland’s “NH” in CNH – has been doing some really innovative work in the remote operation space, and they’re not slowing down.
“We’re building more than machines — we’re building partnerships with our customers to drive their success,” said Brad Stemper, head of Americas Product Management, CASE Construction Equipment. “Every piece of iron in our booth, from our compact machines to our biggest excavators, is designed with the operator in mind so they can stay on schedule, control their operation and protect their bottom line.”
Lots of ‘lectric love from LiuGong
LiuGong showed up in Las Vegas a full line of zero-emission heavies that includes the company’s 922FE excavator, 870HE and 820TE wheel loaders, and even a couple of battery-powered forklifts to represent the brand’s continued Western expansion.
Far from concepts, LiuGong has seen these battery electric machines deployed in more than a dozen countries, with companies in a few dozen more expected to start taking delivery any day now – and those machines? LiuGong says they’re saving construction fleets some 40% on total cost of ownership (TCO) through reduced wear parts, fewer fluids and filters, and reduced downtime compared to diesel or LNG.
Those savings are helping LiuGong drive up sales, but it’s the company’s full lineup is helping, too. “Tough customers don’t have time for complexity,” offers Andrew Ryan, President of LiuGong North America. “They need one partner they can rely on for the entire job – from the first dig to the final grade. Our goal is to deliver durable, efficient equipment supported through a unified service network.”
Tadano brings the big one
We didn’t make it out to Tadano’s impressive crane display, but that just means we missed out on seeing the massive eGR-1000XLL-1 EVOLT in person.
The eGR-1000XLL-1 EVOLT is a laboriously named 100-ton mobile crane that ships with six lithium ion battery packs offering up to 226 kWh of power that Tadano says that’s good enough for up to seven hours of continuous operation in a single spot, or or up five hours of continuous operation and five-and-a-half miles of driving before it runs out of juice – or operate continuously on grid power once it’s on site.
Takeuchi adds to the lineup
Tadano added the all-new TB20e electric mini excavator to its lineup, joining the brand’s new mini track loader concept, shown in both battery-electric and biofuel (in green) configurations – reflecting the forward-looking nature of CONEXPO.
“CONEXPO-CON/AGG is the industry’s most important global stage for construction innovation,” said Jeff Stewart, president of Takeuchi-US. “It’s where contractors, dealers, and manufacturers come together to see what’s new … and where equipment technology is headed next.”
Volvo CE
Finally, it has to be said that Volvo CE is one of the global leaders when it comes to electrification – and certainly the leading Western brand. True to form, the company had a sprawling interactive display that included a demo area where prospective buyers could try out the Swedish brand’s excavators (sandbox!), loaders, and more.
Check out the comprehensive walkthrough of the Volvo CE booth, above, and keep in mind that this is just a sliver of what was out in Las Vegas this year, then let us know what you thought of CONEXPO 2026 and the future of zero-emission construction in the comments.
Original content from Electrek.
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